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Example research essay topic: Reality Of War Joseph Heller - 1,777 words

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CATCH 22 Joseph Heller: 1. Catch- 22 is not simply an anti-war novel. Discuss The basic theme can comes across to the readers in Catch 22, is that of anti-war. This theme is reflected throughout the novel in a number of different ways. A prime example may be the large amount of black comedy included causing the novel to obtain a mockery, yet horror in the whole idea of war.

This happens throughout the novel with certain events that readers may find initially amusing, but the final reaction proves so portray a rather ghastly and digested opinion of war. There are other events in which there is no comedy and the portrayal of war is simply horrific. An example of this would be the death of Snowden, Yossarian ripped open the snaps of Snowden s flak suit, and heard himself scream widely as Snowden s insides slithered down to the floor in a soggy pile, and just kept on dripping out This graphic description may be set out to show the truth of war, and the pain and horror of it all. The description itself will almost certainly get a very strong reaction from the reader, perhaps leading the reader to a very anti-war opinion.

As well as the portrayal of physical torture as an aspect of war, there is also a strong suggestion of what war does mentally to a person. This can be shown by language. For example, part throughout the novel show broken language structure, and chain of thought, lead to the reader often being left in a state of confusion. One of the biggest features that achieves this is the use of the anti-climax feature. The frequent use of this feature captures the individuality of this novel and contributes to a high level the confusion created. The use of such language structure and frame may represent the desperation, the boredom and confusion of soldiers aroused by the war environment.

The language doesn t seem logical, but it shows in a strong sense, the psychological reality of war. This mental confusion can be closely linked with insanity, where the men (or soldiers) find themselves trapped in a crazy world, where each man seek their own solution of how to deal with society. For example; Havermeyer shoots mice to pieces; Mc Watt buzzes tents dangerously; Yossarian censors letters till no sense remains, ; Orr seeks to be shot down. All these aspects of each individual s personal insanity perhaps allows them some control over an insane war that may kill them at anytime. This again adds to the plain absurdity of war in general, therefore creating a very anti-war image in the novel, perhaps showing that insanity is the only way dealing with the crazy situations in war. Absurdity throughout this novel seems to be a large theme. , where there is a substitution of an inner landscape for and outer world.

For example, time is made to expand or contract according to subjective requirements throughout the novel. The mental conditions itself, are presents in the form of a visual metaphor, for example, chapters 1 to 17, where a psychological reality of war is attempted to be made. An example from the novel would be when Lt. Scheisskoft thinks about nailing hands to the side of soldiers so they march the same, where his specific chain of thought shows a mental condition. It shows the need for Scheisskoft to see everything the same, where there should be no individuality. Absurdity can also be found where moral values are up against the business of war.

Here, it can be said that moral value disintegrate in business of war. A smaller example being the big amount of interaction and normality of soldiers visiting prostitutes, and the way in which they are treated, for example, Aarfy gets away with murdering one so easily. A bigger example of this point is Milo, where he makes deals with the Germans, bombs his own base, and even convinces his superior officers that it is in everyone s best interest for him to do so. Milo therefore brings about a strong symbolism of unrestrained greed. The absurdity of this in the way in which the war demoralized soldiers, bring about, yet again, a very anti-warlike criticism where morals are concerned. However, there is not only an attack on American war and morals in this novel, but also an attack on the American Dream and specifically, American morals.

Joseph Heller s views the years portrayed in the novel as a time of stress and tension. The American Dream shows that American s are free, they have the right of speech and have total freedom and can choose to do what they wish and should fight for their principles. This novel however, contradicts this dream, and again, may show the basic reality of the American system. For example, most characters in this novel conform to the standards that the system has set them, for example, they do not question the system itself. A prime and possibly the best example of the contradiction showing this novel of the American dream, is character Aarfy. This character is very much included in the system, and chooses not to question it.

Therefore, Aarfy is looked after. Yossarian on the other hand, chooses to question the system, and wishes to break free of all involvement with it. He, however, therefore will be punished, as he on not conforming to the rules. An excellent example of where this theory can be shown is the event where Aarfy kills the nurse. Yossarian is present at the scene, and expects Aarfy to be arrested, but Aarfy knows for a fact that he won t be and is confident about this.

Eventually, it is Yossarian who is arrested, (due to legal documents) and not Aarfy that is arrested, despite the seriousness of the crime. This shows that the system looks after those who follow it s rules and those who do not question. This contradicts the idea of the American Dream so commonly practised in this period of time, and therefore creates a kind of mockery of this system. The above also shows that things are not what they seem, where the system does not follow what it preaches. It seems that individuals have to almost break-free of the system, for example, what Yossarian may have done at the end of the novel, by running away. American culture preaches individuality, yet one of the most noticeably things about this novel is the loss of individuality in characters, where war leads to the loss of a unique soldier s individuality.

A prime example is the way in which Lt. Scheisskoft because so obsessed with parades because he sees the men more as puppets rather than human beings. He even goes to the extent that he wants to wire / pin them together so that their movements will be perfectly precise. This obsession can be closely connected as one of the aspects of war, where all men are seen as identical, with things like marches and uniform. This again shows the mockery of war, and what it does to people, and therefore proving to be very anti-warlike. The example of the soldier in white proves somewhat a different example of the loss of individuality, as he is firstly, directly related tot he battlefield.

The soldier appears twice, and all that can be seen is plaster and bandage. The absurdity, however, of the same fluid being recycled through the man suggests that he is just another in the system. It may represent those involved in the system, where the nurses are the leaders, and they just feed in what they want, commanding the actions of the somewhat useless individual, such as the soldier in white who cant do any thing for himself. In the case of the soldier who sees everything twice, direct substitution occurs, when the man s relative come to see him, and the superiors of Yossarian are embarrassed that the soldier is dead before the relatives arrive from their long journey. Absurdity is found hear when Yossarian pretend to be their son, and proves the point that one dying man is as good as another, when the relatives fail to notice a difference. A point that can shows the loss of individuality, as well as how war portrays men, is the even in which Yossarian is wounded, and is told to take better care is his leg because it is government property.

This absurdity shows that the government sees the men in war purely as property, rather than individuals which shows to theme that individuality does not matter. A theme that comes across strongly throughout the novel, and one that can be supported by the event where Aarfy murders the nurse, is that of the importance of paperwork. This again mocks the system, where the system is seen to be taking things to such extents. For example, Yossarian gets arrested for not having the right paper work, while Aarfy gets away with murder, perhaps because it is not on paper. Another example is when Doc Deeneka pines away while his wife is ables to rake money because paperwork says that Deeneka is officially dead. In contrast, Mudd s things remain in Yossarian s tent because papers say that he is still officially alive.

The power of paper work mocks the system in the sense that the system seems to be perhaps solely run through the means of paperwork... The theme of paper work throughout the novel gets to the point where the future of a person is dependant on the paperwork, again, the Yossarian and Aarfy situation can be used to represent this... An additional example would be where Fortiori is sent home because Sanderson confuses his paper with Yossarian s. Although Catch 22 may be portrayed as an anti-war novel, there are many other elements besides this basic theme that show that catch- 22 is simply not just an anti-war novel. These themes are, however, closely linked to those of war.

The main themes show the stupidity and loss of lives in war, and the pointlessness and the way in which the government portrays the individuals, shows that war is not as glorious as shown. The American system as a whole appears to be mocked, as well as contradictions to their morals and ideas. All these aspects in turn give Catch 22, as a novel, a very anti-war approach, making the novel successful in communicating these anti-war idea s as well as anti- American-government ideas, showing and suggestions to readers that there are alternative, more personally beneficial ways of living a life.


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Research essay sample on Reality Of War Joseph Heller

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